As today is World Physical Activity Day we at Carelink24 would like to give some elderly tips on what you, the Carelink customers and your friends, can do to take part. Staying active in old age is vitally important for your health and doing so can help lower to risk of having Dementia, Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes… just to name a few.
Taking part in sport and cardiovascular exercises is also good for your bones and therefore, for your movement.
Here are some tips for the elderly on what they could be doing today to do their part on World Physical Activity Day:
Walking
Simply going for a walk would qualify as a physical activity and this is so easy to do. Rather than driving to the shops just down the road, why not go for a steady walk? This is a low-impact activity which won’t necessarily cause you to sweat or to be out of breath.
Despite this, walking can do so many positive things for your body. Going on regular walks can help you to lose weight, whilst toning your legs and stomach muscles. Walking will also give you an energy boost as it helps to improve your oxygen levels and breathing.
Walking regularly can also improve your heart’s health and can help to prevent the risk of conditions such as Diabetes.
Going for a walk is just an easy and simple thing to include in your day! You can simply replace your car or public transport with your own legs. Or you can make a day of it and go sightseeing through the city or through the countryside.
Swimming
Who doesn’t like going for a swim? Getting in the pool is hugely enjoyable for most people, as it something we have all done since we were children. Not only is swimming a fun activity but it also has a brilliant effect on your body.
Due to the mass of the water that you are swimming in, you are actually pushing your body more than if you were walking or jogging. Half-an-hour in the pool will allow you to burn more calories and build up more muscle mass.
You can also keep pushing yourself to do extra lengths each time that you go and you can also have somebody timing you so that you can watch your body improve physically. There are also a wide range of other activities that you can do whilst you are in the pool, such as Water Polo and Water Aerobics.
Racket Sports
Racket sports are brilliant for your cardiovascular strength, arm muscles and for your joints. For the most intense workout we would suggest having a game of Squash. This high-intensity game has you moving constantly as you rush to meet the ball – where ever it is heading after hitting the wall.
With Squash you are guaranteed to finish the game sweating after an excellent work out. It is believed that you can burn around 500 calories after just half an hour of play!
Other racket sports that have a slightly lower intensity level include badminton and tennis. Both of these sports will still give you an excellent arm workout, which is brilliant for your elbows and shoulders.
Your overall fitness will still improve as well through playing these sports – which can be played indoors or outdoors. You can also have plenty of fun whilst taking part as well – which to us is just as important when doing physical activities.
Gym Session
World Physical Activity Day is a great excuse to get yourself down to the gym! Yes, we know that this can be a tough thing to do but we believe that once you get into a routine of going to the gym, it can become enjoyable.
You can choose to go for a cardiovascular workout. This could include you taking the time to go on a treadmill or a bike, before heading over to the cross-trainer. Possibly do around 10 minutes on each depending on your fitness and level of health.
A final ‘cardio’ machine for you to use would be the rowing machine. Not only does this boost your stamina, but it also gives your muscles a good workout.
If you would rather do a workout out to boost your strength and build up muscle then there are plenty of other machines for you to use. There are machines specifically for your chest, back, legs, triceps, biceps and for your abs.
Most gyms will also have a range of free weights if you prefer to use them.
These are just a few elderly tips for World Physical Activity Day! There are plenty more activities which you could take part in such as football or bowls.
